Main menu

A new wave of cooperatives is emerging in the US, and a big part of the inspiration is coming from what might seem an unlikely source: the United Steelworkers International Union (USW), which describes itself as North America's largest industrial union, with 1.2 million active and retired members.

In 2009 the USW joined with Mondragon Inc. of Spain and Kent State University's Ohio Employee-Ownership Center (OEOC) to start a discussion on bringing the successful Mondragon model of employee-owned cooperatives to the US.

"Experienced Baker needed for weekend shifts at Local Sprouts Cooperative. Must be proficient in producing consistent breakfast pastries, cookies, bars, cakes, pies, and other sweets. This position requires knowledge of baking from scratch. Knowledge of vegan and gluten-free baking strongly preferred.

reRoute is holding a conference from July 19-21 in New York City to address the ways in which the next generation of activists can create the economy they desire. How can we work together to enable "generation screwed" to become "generation renewed"?

"On 6-8 May, UNRISD held a major international conference on Potential and Limits of Social and Solidarity Economy, co-hosted with the ILO and in partnership with UN-NGLS, Hivos, the Rosa Luxembourg Foundation and the Ville de Genève. The conference was a great success in terms of both participation and outcomes."

World University offers an online platform for creating and taking free courses. Their section on cooperatives currently offers a two classes developed by MIT professors. The goal is to keep building their library of user-generated content through a simple-to-use inferface.

Author Mira Luna asks: "why do we continue to give control over health care and our money away to companies that don't have our interests at heart in a matter that is literally life and death?" And she finds "alternative, community-based models [that] actually work".

Worcester's Solidarity and Green Economy conference brings together activists, organizers, educators, community leaders, non-profits and other individuals and organizations who are committed to forging more equitable and sustainable ways of organizing our economies and communities. The 3rd annual conference will last three days from August 23-25. This conference will focus on building capacity for cooperators and lay the groundwork for creating a broader solidarity economy throughout Southern New England.

"To protect small and family farms from industrial factory farming, over a decade ago a handful of Pennsylvania townships stood up to some of the country’s largest agribusiness corporations. Recognizing that the state and federal government, rather than protecting them from factory farms, were in fact forcing them into communities, the townships took the unprecedented step of banning corporate farming within their borders."

"After almost a year in preparation, we are very excited to say that today, the New Era Windows Cooperative is opening its doors for business. The Working World has been an extremely proud partner since day one, providing financing and technical assistance to help bring the cooperative to fruition."

The Veggie Mobile Market is an old school bus that runs on used veggie oil and will work with local aggregators to support local growers while simultaneously being able to provide high quality food to low-income communities at affordable prices. The project will also use the bus as a platform for civic enagement and education.